Exploring the "Mitten" of Michigan

We traveled about 200 miles from the "UP" and Sault Sainte Marie, MI across the Mackinaw Bridge into the "Mitten" of Michigan. Because of its recognizable shape, the Lower Peninsula is nicknamed The Mitten, with the eastern region identified as The Thumb. This has led to several folkloric creation myths for the area, one of which is that the handprint of Paul Bunyan, a giant lumberjack and popular European-American folk character, is in Michigan.

On Sunday, July 5th we camped in the Harrisville State Park set along the sandy shores of Lake Huron. The park is home to a day-use area nestled in a stand of pine and cedar trees and a modern campground. We stayed here for two nights and explored the eastern shores of Michigan along Lake Huron. I wrote a review of our experience on the RV Life, Trip Wizard site titled, “Large site but tight roads”. We paid $88 for two nights ($40 per night plus $8 reservation fee) then another $24 at the entrance for the RP: Michigan Recreation Passport ($12 per day) which in the end was pricey for an electric site only. Our site #7 was a large pull-through not far from both the restrooms and an innovative fire wood dispenser ($7 for a bundle). The beach to Lake Huron is near the restroom building with outside and inside shower facilities. We observed many campers enjoying the waterfront on stand-up paddle boards and swimming but we chose to only dip our toes.

Beautiful weather on the east side of Michigan.

The beach wasn't wide but the water was calm and warm enough to enjoy.

If you're going to spend a week or more in the Michigan State Parks, it would make sense to purchase the annual RP pass, which we will do the next time we're in Michigan for an extended time.

From Harrisville we drove down the shoreline of eastern Michigan and eventually to the town of Frankenmuth. According to the welcome guide online, Frankenmuth is Michigan's Little Bavaria. It advertised that, "Summer in Michigan's Little Bavaria is alive with sunshine, festive fun, and unforgettable experiences. Flower-lined streets are in full bloom, outdoor activities invite you on an adventure, and Festival Season is in full swing."

We stayed in St. Lorenz Churchgrove Park, started by members of the St. Lorenz Lutheran Church and School. One of the reviewers on the RV Life site stated, "St. Lorenz Churchgrove Park draws RVers with its peaceful, wooded setting, level grassy sites, and exceptional cleanliness—especially in the restrooms and showers. The pet-friendly environment, friendly camp hosts, and easy first-come, first-served system stand out in reviews. Many find value in the affordable rates, shaded spots, and proximity to downtown Frankenmuth, which is walkable or a quick bike ride away. Sites offer electric and water hookups, though 50-amp spots are limited, and most sit on grass rather than pavement. A prayer trail, playground, and group picnic area add extra charm. Overall, the quiet atmosphere, safe surroundings, and quick access to restaurants and shops make this a favorite spot for short visits and family getaways."

We found the camp host, Gary very friendly and helpful in finding us a 50A site and answering all our questions.

This massive store had everything you could ever want or need for Christmas.

Our first stop in Frakenmuth was Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland with promotes itself as the "World's Largest Christmas Store". According to Wikipedia, designed with an Alpine architecture, the building is 7.35 acres with landscaped grounds covering 27 acres. Outside the entrance are three 17-foot-tall outdoor Santa Claus's and a 15-foot-tall snowman. Inside the store, there are approximately 800 animated figurines. Some 100,000 lights illuminate Bronner's one-half-mile-long Christmas Lane. Michigan designated Bronner's as an "Embassy for Michigan Tourism" in 1976. Bronner's employs over 500 people during the holiday season (between October and Christmas).

After exploring Bronner's we decided to get a late lunch at the Bavaria Inn restaurant. There we enjoyed authentic Bavarian fare including a medley of favorites – Famous Frankenmuth® Chicken (white or dark meat), Schnitzel (breaded loin of pork) and Sauerbraten (marinated roast beef), Wiener Schnitzel

(hand-breaded veal cutlet) along with sauerkraut and potato cheese puffs. We also added a side dish of Buttered Spätzle, small Bavarian dumplings.

After our meal we walked to the covered bridge over the river by the Bavarian Inn for a photo opportunity.

After visiting Frankenmuth, Michigan we continued on to our friends and fellow RVICS workers, Alan and Pat Willis' home in Jackson, Michigan for the last three days of our Great Lakes adventure with Silas. We parked our RV in front of their storage barn and hooked up to the 30A power to mooch-dock on their 2.6 acre property. We enjoyed meals together, played card games and did some local sightseeing which included a visit to MOO-ville.

MOO-ville Creamery is family owned and operated. They milk 200 cows with robots in Nashville, Michigan and believe in producing high quality Milk and process it as little as possible. They bottle their own milk, make their own ice cream, cheese, and butter, all under the MOO-ville logo. They welcome everyone to visit them where you can see how their Holstein cows are treated. We of course enjoyed some of their delicious ice cream creations!

Silas' last day with us was Friday July 10th. We had a great visit and adventure while he was with us but it was now time to send him back home to mom, dad and his brothers in California. Silas had variety of new experiences with "Grandpa John and Mimi" and we enjoyed celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States with him. We drove him to the Detroit International Airport that afternoon and Karen waited with him until he boarded and the plane left the gate. We sure hope he had fun while he was with us!